Cindy Jackson and Sherry Digmon took the oath of office Thursday afternoon in Brewton as the two newest board members for the Escambia County Board of Education.

Following a moment of silence for Escambia County High School drivers ed teacher and softball coach William Casaday, who was killed in a car on Nov. 9 accident on the way to school, District Judge Dave Jordan presided over the swearing in ceremony prior to the board meeting. Jackson and Digmon placed their hands on a Bible as they were sworn in separately before family, friends and fellow board members.

“It was an honor to get to be apart of the board,” Jackson said.

The Flomaton resident said she believes her nearly 30 years working in the school system will an asset to her as she begins her transition to the board.

“I feel like the knowledge that I have learned over the last 29 years will be beneficial,” she said.

Digmon, an Atmore resident and co-owner of “The Atmore News,” said being on the other side of the camera took some getting used to.

“When you’re being sworn in, you have to concentrate on the words you have to repeat, so it’s hard to think about anything else,” she said. “I was aware of the photographs being taken, and that made me a little uncomfortable since I’m used to being on the other side of the camera. When I got to the last few words ‘so help me God’ I almost got teary, especially when I looked over at my dear friend Ruth Harrell who was and is such a strong supporter and a prayer warrior.”

Both Jackson and Digmon would like to see some changes on the board and plan on sharing their ideas with their fellow board members.

“There are some policies that might need to be changes or tweaked and some of the programs we might need to be pushed a little bit more,”Jackson said.

Jackson and Digmon joined the rest of the board at the boardroom table following the swearing in ceremony.